Method and apparatus for making paper of value having an optically variable security element

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for making a data carrier (1) such as a paper of value or the like having an optically variable element (5,6) such as a hologram, applied to the surface, and an additional printed pattern (2), applied for example by steel intaglio printing, wherein the surface of the data carrier (15,16,20,21) is made smoother in the area of the optically variable element than in the remaining surface and the optically variable element is applied to the smoother area.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/111,451,filed Aug. 25, 1993, now abandoned which is a division of applicationSer. No. 07/649,066, filed Feb. 1, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,544.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a data carrier made of paper, inparticular a paper of value, a bank note or the like, having applied toits surface an optically variable security element such as a diffractiongrid, hologram, interference element, liquid crystal polymer or thelike, with an additional printed pattern applied by a printing method,in particular by steel intaglio printing, and a method and apparatus forproducing it.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

To be protected against imitation by means of color copiers, papers ofvalue are increasingly equipped with optically variable securityelements, in particular holograms. This protection against forgery isbased on the copier's insufficient ability to reproduce the opticalproperties of the elements.

Various methods are known for applying optically variable elements(OVD), in particular holograms, to data carriers. They can be dividedinto the three categories of gluing, transfer printing and embossing.

By the gluing method, adhesive labels that are initially prepunched onsilicone paper are automatically transferred to the paper substrate. Theadhesive labels have a layer structure composed of a pressure-sensitiveadhesive layer, a self-supporting film with an optically active layerabove a diffraction grid, for example, and a protective layer locatedthereabove. The thickness of an adhesive label is typically in the rangeof 50 micrometers, the main part of the thickness being due to the filmmaterial.

In transfer printing, also known as "hot stamping," the opticallyvariable element is prefabricated on a transfer band and transferred tothe substrate in a subsequent working step. The structure transferred tothe paper typically has a thickness in the range of a few micrometers.In the case of holograms the customary layer structure of the elementcomprises a heat-sealing layer, a layer of lacquer with an embossing, analuminized layer and a transparent covering protective layer. This layerstructure is initially located on the transfer foil, being "affixed" tothe foil by a release layer (e.g. a wax layer). One transfers the bandby placing it with the heat-sealing layer on the substrate andactivating the heat-sealing layer by pressing on a heated die, so thatthe element bonds with the substrate. Simultaneously, the separationlayer melts, thereby detaching the hologram from the transfer band. Thetransfer principle is the most frequently applied method today and isused in particular for applying holograms to plastic credit cards.

The embossing method is mainly suitable for diffraction elements, suchas holograms and optical grids. A layer of hardenable lacquer is appliedto a substrate that is preferably provided with an extremely thin andreflective metal surface. A press die is then used to emboss thediffraction relief structure into the layer of lacquer. After thelacquer has hardened the structure is covered with a protective lacquer.The finished element has a layer structure comprising the successivelayers of lacquer with the metal layer and relief structure and thelayer of protective lacquer.

Each of the methods and resulting products has its own specialadvantages and disadvantages. For example, adhesive labels aretechnically easy to produce and can be transferred to the intendedsubstrates without any trouble. An extreme disadvantage of adhesivelabels for application in the paper-of-value branch, however, is thatthe entire elements can be detached from the substrate and transferredto forged products. For this reason, transfer and embossed elements arepreferred for paper-of-value applications.

Transfer and embossed elements largely meet the requirements in terms ofprotection from forgery in the paper-of-value branch, but these elementsinvolve a number of production engineering problems in connection withpapers of value. The following two marginal conditions must beespecially heeded.

Firstly, it must be taken into consideration that papers of valuecustomarily have a high-security printed pattern; these patterns areapplied in most cases by steel intaglio printing. Steel intaglioprinting and related methods require a relatively high surface roughnessof the substrate for the inks to bond well with the substrate. On theother hand, rough surfaces are unsuitable for the application of opticalelements.

Secondly, it must be heeded that the paper of value is subjected to avery high pressure load on its whole surface during steel intaglioprinting. This customarily reduces the optical effect of any opticalelements applied prior to printing; the elements can even be damaged orfully destroyed by the paper roughness pressed through from the paperbase.

When producing papers of value equipped with optically variable elementsone therefore first provided the paper at value with the printed patternand then applied the OVD in one of the following method steps, or onedivided the application of OVDs into single steps, performing themeasures not endangered by steel intaglio printing before the printingand the others only after it. One thereby accepted the disadvantagesthat this direct coupling with the printing process made it impossibleto prefabricate unprinted OVD papers of value in a job-neutral way(stockpile production), on the one hand, and that the application of theOVDs requires suitable machines (transfer machines, etc.) per printingline, on the other hand. The "OVD machines" required per printing linenot only increase the cost and the space requirements of the machinery,but also cause a bottleneck at the end of each printing line due totheir different production capacity, which must be compensated byincreased efforts.

EP-A 338 378 discloses such a system for producing paper products thathave both a printed pattern and an optical diffraction element. In acontinuous process the paper is first printed in known printing units.Then, as in the described embossing method, a radiation hardenablelacquer is applied and provided with a diffraction structure in oneoperation. In subsequent operations the diffraction structure is vacuumcoated with a reflective metal layer and provided with a protectivelacquer.

In other known systems the operation of applying the hologram is dividedin two. Following papermaking, the lacquer is applied to the papersurface in a first step. After the paper is printed the optical grid isembossed in the next step.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,515 describes a variant of this bipartite method. Ametal layer with an adhesive layer thereabove is first applied to aplastic transfer band having a prepared surface. These two layers formthe substructure of the future security element. In the first step thetwo layers are laminated onto the substrate, whereby the substructure ofthe element takes on the surface quality of the transfer band under theaction of heat and pressure in the laminating operation. In the secondstep a printed pattern and an optically acting relief structure areapplied to the substrate.

The forced order of printing and applying the optically effective layersor optically effective structures leads, as already mentioned, to anumber of serious disadvantages.

One disadvantage of the known methods involves the greatly differingmanufacturing speeds of printing machines and the apparatus for applyingthe optical elements. Comparing machines of the same type, for examplesheet printing machines and sheet hologram machines, one ascertains thathologram machines have a processing speed that is lower by a factor offour. The lower working speed of hologram machines is due to necessaryprocess engineering aspects. For example, the embossing ofmicrometer-fine structures is a method step that must be performed verycarefully and is thus time-consuming. In a manufacturing chain ofprinting machines and hologram machines the hologram application thusconstitutes a bottleneck that limits the manufacturing speed.

The forced order of production is particularly disadvantageous when itcomes to the manufacture of papers of value. For reasons of processengineering, steel intaglio printing machines are almost always sheetmachines, so that the following hologram application must also takeplace on sheet machines. It is well-known that sheet machinesfundamentally have a low processing speed due to the handling of thesheet material; this property also applies to hologram machines. Sinceone cannot resort to the clearly faster reel machines for the hologramproduction as the sheets are already cut, the result is that, of allpossible designs of a manufacturing chain for papers of value, the knownmethods only permit the variants having the lowest possible processingspeed.

A further disadvantage of the known methods is the difficulty ofintegrating them into the organizational sequence of security printingplants. For security reasons it is virtually indispensable inpaper-of-value manufacture for the printing process, in particular theprinting of the serial number, to be the last processing operationbefore delivery of the papers of value. In security printing plants itis therefore an established custom to prefabricate paper with thecorresponding security features, such as watermarks, safeguardingthreads and any optical elements, and then to print it. Thismanufacturing sequence is likewise not possible with the known methods.

A further disadvantage of the known methods is the use of technologiesthat are unusual in the fields of papermaking and printing. For example,the vacuum metalizing of the embossed elements (see EP-A 338 378) or ofa prepared transfer band (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,515) is a foreigntechnique that can currently not be integrated into papermaking andprinting plants. Reasons for this are the above-mentioned differentprocessing speeds of the different machines, the as yet high susceptanceto trouble of the foreign techniques, the necessity of specialists,etc., so that all in all a smooth operation of a manufacturing chain isnot ensured.

Assuming this prior art and its disadvantages, one is faced with theproblem of finding a form of paper of value and a method of producing itthat make it possible

to arrange the manufacturing steps necessary for the printed pattern andthe optical element in a variable order,

to select and combine the different manufacturing machines in terms oftheir manufacturing capacity and processing speed, and

to produce in the usual environment without using foreign techniques andwithout disturbing the organizational sequence in papermaking andprinting plants, in particular in security printing plants.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the hitherto neglected finding that opticallyvariable elements and paper are two materials with extremely differentproperties, and that extremely different demands are also made on thetwo materials in accordance with the intended function. Paper, inparticular paper of value, should have, among other properties, acertain "touch"; it must also be able to take and bind inks well. Theseproperties are obtained by selecting special types of paper, preferablyrag paper, and by setting a predetermined surface roughness andstructure. Optically variable elements, by contrast, should have opticalproperties that are as effective as possible. For this purpose the lawsof physics primarily demand and surface profiles characterized by veryhigh smoothness and flatness.

When applying the optical elements to paper one must therefore strike abalance between the different surface profiles or qualities. Accordingto the current prior art this balance has been obtained up to now solelyby adapting the structure and/or the application method of the opticalelements to the roughness of the substrate. The focus on the opticalelements to obtain this balance has also been greatly promoted by thefact that the paper properties are fixed within narrow tolerances inparticular in the paper-of-value field, so that they have been regardedas a fixed variable in the overall manufacturing process.

In contrast to the previous procedure, the essence of the invention isto adapt the paper, in a first step, to the smoothness required for theoptically variable elements by local glazing in the surface areaintended for the optical element, using methods that are commonplace inpapermaking and printing plants. The glazing is performed substantiallyonly in the surface area covered by the intended element. The remainingarea is left unchanged as far as possible during glazing, so that thesurface quality required for the printing methods is retained there. Theoptical element to produce a flat finished surface area is applied tothe glazed finished area of the paper in a subsequent working step,preferably even before printing.

Using this surprisingly simple measure one can create locally limitedmarginal conditions on a data carrier that are optimally adapted to theparticular purpose and also ensure the fulfillment of very differentrequirements.

For glazing and strengthening the paper surface various methods areknown from printing and paper technology, that can be essentiallydivided into the categories of calendering and coating. These methodscan also be used in a modified form for locally glazing the surface.

Calendering is performed by inserting the paper in reel or sheet forminto a calender consisting, for example, of two opposing cylinders. Topermit locally limited glazing, one or both cylinders of the calenderhave a raised design in the area where the element is to be applied, sothat the paper is compressed and glazed above all in this area. Apressure is exerted in the range of 100 to 1,000 kp/cm tangent length.In accordance with the requirements the hologram areas have a raiseddesign either on only one cylinder or on both cylinders.

Coating and related methods such as casting, cast coating, etc., areperformed by applying a coat or a cast to the paper surface. To obtain alocally limited coat one requires coating systems adapted to theinvention. For a coating in stripes it is expedient to use nozzlecoating systems with laterally limited slot nozzles, for example, whilefor spots of any desired shape it is preferable to use gravure roller orcylinder mold units. Coating and casting slips are made substantially ofmineral pigments and binders that hold together the pigments and anchorthem in the body paper. The particle size is typically in the micrometerrange, which is why coated or cast coated papers have a glazed surface.

The paper surface can also be coated with a leveling mass consisting atleast partly of plastics materials. This can also be done using nozzlecoating units, gravure roller units or cylinder mold units.

Glazing units can be either reel or sheet machines. Continuously glazingreel machines can be used to produce on paper webs one or morestripe-shaped zones having a glazed surface over he entire web length.These stripe-shaped zones are suitable in particular for the laterapplication of endless elements in the form of bands or threads. It isparticularly advantageous to apply the endless elements with reelmachines as well.

To produce paper smooth enough for the application of holograms, veryhigh pressure is necessary. Depending on the type of paper or form ofthe glazed area, it may happen that the paper undulates and is no longersuitable for printing. In this case one uses a glazing unit in which theareas where the holograms are to be applied are raised above theremaining area by only a few hundredths of a millimeter (preferably 5 to50 micrometers). This means that the paper is greatly glazed at highpressure in the hologram area while it is only compressed in theremaining area to such an extent that no waves and distortions occur andthe roughness required for steel engraving is retained.

The glazing unit can be located, as a module, at virtually any desiredplace before the hologram application within a manufacturing chain. Thesmallest machine unit comprises only an unrolling means for the paperweb, a glazing unit and a rolling-up means. This unit can be extended bysuitable apparatus for printing the paper and applying holograms. Inparticular the following units can be added between the glazing unit andthe rolling-up means:

1. means for applying a filler, a bonding agent or an adhesive in thehologram area,

2. means for drying the bonding agent or the adhesive with the aid ofheat, IR or UV radiation or electron beams,

3. means for applying the optically variable elements; one canalternatively use:

transfer means for applying hot embossed holograms or other hot embossedelements,

means for applying reflective surfaces for subsequent hologramembossings,

means for applying lacquers and similar coatings and for embossingoptical diffraction structures,

4. means for hardening the embossed lacquers, coatings or adhesives withthe aid of heat or radiation,

5. means for applying protective layers with the aid of printing,coating or laminating methods,

6. means for inspecting the quality of the optically variable elements,

7. means for marking or individualizing the webs, copies from one sheetor elements,

8. printing units for further printing operations.

This list is neither complete nor does it prescribe the order of themachines; it merely represents one of many possible alternatives. Thetypes of machines and their order in the manufacturing chain can bepreselected or varied by the expert with reference to the list dependingon the desired production sequence and type of element. It is alsopossible to add, at suitable places, rolling-up means for intermediatestorage or other known machine elements such as reel cutters, sheetcutters or sorting means.

Despite these astonishingly simple inventive measures, the inventivedata carriers and the possibilities of producing them offer numerousadvantages.

A first advantage is the increase in the quality of the papers of valueequipped with optical elements. While the layer structure of theelements formerly had to be adapted to the paper properties--one needmerely recall the thick adhesive layers for compensating the surfaceroughness--the elements can now be optimized in terms of their properfunction thanks to the invention. The use of thin adhesive layersalready leads to a number of improvements. For example, an adhesivelayer as thin as film ensures a high elasticity of the element, so thatit can better survive the loads that occur particularly in thecirculation of papers of value. A thin adhesive layer also increases theprotection from forgery, since it makes it more difficult or impossibleto split off the element along the adhesive layer.

A further increase in quality results from the possibility of passingfrom embossed holograms to transfer elements. Transfer elements arepreferable as security elements to embossed elements due to theirsimpler application method and their higher optical efficiency. However,since transfer elements typically have a thickness only in the range ofa few micrometers they were hardly applied to paper surfaces up to now.The inventive manner of glazing now creates the conditions on the papersurface for applying such transfer elements.

Further advantages result from the possibility of integrating thehologram application at particularly suitable places in the productionsequence on the basis of the invention. The resulting increase inmanufacturing throughput, or increase in manufacturing capacity, is bestapparent in paper-of-value manufacture. The working steps of glazing andhologram application can now be already performed in the reel stage ofthe paper as they are independent of the printing process. The highprocessing speed of the reel machines makes it possible to avoid themanufacturing bottlenecks that occur when sheet machines are used.

The independence of the printing process and the hologram applicationresults in the further advantage that the procedural sequence customaryin security printing plants can be maintained. Thus, the paper can beprefabricated with all its security elements, such as watermarks,safeguarding threads, optically variable elements, etc., and also bestored if necessary. The printing process, that is particularly criticalin terms of security, is as usual the last method step. Due to the localsurface glazing, no surface roughness is pressed through during theprinting process any more. The printing of paper of value with elementsalready applied thereto thus leads to no impairment of its quality. Thisis true in particular if the surface roughness is not only eliminatedduring surface glazing but the paper is also provided with a localdepression in which the element is embedded.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and features of the invention can be seen in thefigures and the subsequent exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a paper of value in a front view with pretreated surfaceareas,

FIG. 2 shows a section through a paper of value with a calenderedsurface area,

FIG. 3 shows a section through a paper of value with two opposing coatedand rolled areas,

FIG. 4 shows a calendering roller for locally glazing paper,

FIG. 5 shows a system for glazing paper and applying holograms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a data carrier in the form of a bank note 1. It has aprinted area 2 and a white edge area 3 in which a watermark 4 islocated. As protection from copying, two optically variable elements 5and 6 are applied to the surface. As optically active layers, theseelements can contain holographic relief structures, diffractionstructures, interference layers, liquid crystal polymers and otheroptically acting surfaces. In preferred embodiments, element 5 is areflection hologram with a circular base, for example. Element 6 isapplied to the surface in the form of a band and extends over the entirewide of the bank note. As an optically active layer, this elementpreferably contains a repeating continuous diffraction grid.

The note has inventively glazed finished areas 15 and 16. In the Figurethe limits of the areas are suggested by interrupted lines. Opticallyvariable elements 5 and 6 are applied within glazed surface areas 15 and16. The size of the areas is preferably selected in such a way that theelements can be placed reliably within these areas on the basis of theprocess tolerances, but it is also possible to give the areas anydesired contour shape and size in accordance with the desired design.The glazed finished areas can be produced by local calendering orcoating.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged section through bank note 1 in the area ofelement 6. By local calendering a smooth finished surface has beenproduced in surface area 15, and also in area 16 (not shown). Outsidethese areas 15 and 16 the bank note has its original surface roughness9. The high surface quality in the glazed areas increases the range ofvariation for applying and designing optically variable elements 5 and6.

In a first variant, element 6 can be applied by the embossing method. Inthe glazed surface area an adhesive layer 10 is first applied. Due tothe surface quality, the layer thickness can now be optimized withrespect to flexibility, protection from forgery and the effect of theelement for the serviceability of the note. In the next method step adiffraction grid is then embossed in adhesive layer 10. In final workingsteps the embossed surface is provided with a thin metallic reflectinglayer and coated with a protective lacquer 11. The embossed gridstructures and the metal layer are not shown in FIG. 2 due to theirmicroscopic size.

In a second variant, element 6 is applied by the transfer method. Theelement is present here in a prefabricated form on a transfer band. Theprefabrication on the band makes it possible to integrate any desiredoptically effective layers in the layer structure; special reference ismade here to reflective metal layers, interference layers, diffractiongrids and holograms. The glazing of paper substrate 8 in surface area 15of the application makes it possible to transfer elements to paper ingood quality despite their small thickness and their low inner strength.After transfer the layer structure is similar to that produced by theembossing method. It comprises an adhesive layer 10, optically actinglayers thereabove and one or more layers of lacquer 11.

During calendering a high pressure is exerted on the paper in the areasto be glazed, thereby pressing the paper fibers together irreversiblyand reducing the surface roughness. Along with the glazing effects,calendering also causes a compression of paper substrate 8, which makesa depression form in the paper. This depression has the advantage thatan optical element located therein is protected from contact and damagein, any subsequent processing steps, for example during printing of thepaper.

FIG. 3 also shows an enlarged section through bank note 14, whereby inthis example the surface was glazed on the front and back bydouble-sided coating. For this purpose a coating slip is applied to thepaper substrate in surface areas 20 and 21. For a more modest surfacequality it is sufficient to dry the paper and the coating slip in knownmachines. A particularly level paper surface was obtained in the shownexample by additionally drawing the coated paper through a glazing unitwith high-polished machine glazing cylinders, thereby pressing thecoating slip into the paper. The result is a bank note paper with twoopposing glazed surface areas that show little or no projection from thepaper surface. The coating slip used can be a coating substance knownfrom papermaking. Both embossed and transfer elements can be applied tothe glazed areas in ways already described.

FIG. 4 shows a calendering cylinder 30 as can be used in a glazing unitfor locally glazing paper. In cylinder glazing units the paper runsbetween two cylinders pressed together. For local glazing one or bothcylinders of such a glazing unit are replaced by calendering cylinder 30shown in FIG. 4. This cylinder has raised surfaces 31 and 32 in thehologram areas. The step height between the raised and recessed areas ispreferably in the range of one millimeter and less. Surface 31 extendsonly over a small part of the peripheral surface and is suitable forproducing isolated glazed areas in which element 5, for example, can beused. Surface 32 extends over the total periphery and produces on thepaper web endless stripe-shaped zones that are particularly suitable forapplying endless elements 6.

To produce paper smooth enough for the application of holograms, veryhigh pressure is necessary. If this pressure is only applied to partialareas of the paper substrate, the paper can undulate depending on itsproperties and the contour shape of the areas to be glazed. It is thenno longer suitable for printing and for later use. In such cases theglazing unit is preferably designed in such a way that the raised areason the calendering cylinder stand out from the remaining areas by onlyfractions of a millimeter, preferably 5 to 50 micrometers. The distancebetween the two calendering cylinder is adjusted in such a way that thepaper is greatly glazed at high pressure in the hologram area, while itis compressed in the remaining area only to such an extent that no wavesand distortions occur. One thus avoids the washboard marks,simultaneously obtaining the roughness necessary for steel engraving.The pressure for glazing the paper is typically in the range of 100 to1,000 kp per cm tangent.

Another way of glazing paper is coating. Since the customary rollercoating units work over the entire paper width, one must either modifythese machines for locally applying coating or casting slips, or useother types of machines that are adapted to the invention. Such types ofmachines are, for example, nozzle coating systems with laterally limitedslot nozzles for applying the coating slip in stripes, or gravure rollerunits or cylinder mold units for coating in spots. To make surfaces withall kinds of outlines register with specifically placed watermarks forapplication of the elements, one can use an insetting unit customary inprinting technology.

Procedures known from coating technology can also be transferred onlocal coating of the paper surface. For example, one can performmulti-step coating with precoating and final coating, or calendercoating with the aid of coating calenders. It is particularlyadvantageous to use a method derived from cast coating, whereby acoating slip is first applied locally to the paper surface and thecoating is then dried and provided with a dead-smooth surface in aglazing unit with a heated high-polished calendering cylinder to producea finished surface.

Another manner of coating is to apply a mixture, not of mineralsubstances, but at least partly of plastics material. With smallmodifications, the same application methods and machines can be employedas stated above.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a manufacturing chain for producing aninventive paper of value 1. The manufacturing chain contains units forpreparing the paper surface, for applying transfer holograms and forchecking them. All machines are designed as reel machines and can belocated anywhere between the papermaking and the printing. This marginalcondition is suggested in FIG. 5 by the broken separating lines at thebeginning and end of the manufacturing chain. In a preferred embodiment,the manufacturing chain is added in the papermaking before the so-calledguillotine. That is, paper reel 51 comes from the web cutter of thepaper machine, which cuts the wide web coming from the paper machineinto narrower single webs; unit 66 is followed by the guillotine thatdivides the paper web into single sheets.

Paper-of-value web 50 is supplied continuously by the units. The papercan be removed from a supply reel 51 or else supplied directly bypapermaking machines. The paper first runs into a glazing unit 52 thatcomprises two opposing calendering cylinders 53. The cylinders haveraised areas 32 extending, as shown in FIG. 4, over the total peripheryof the cylinders. In accordance with the existing number of copies fromone sheet, the raised areas are repeated over the width of the cylinderto produce a local smooth and finished surface. After local glazing thepaper is supplied to an application unit 54 that applies a bonding agentto the glazed stripe or stripes. Next, the paper web runs into a dryingmeans 55 where the bonding agent is dried by means of heat. Instead ofdrying by heat one can also use other methods, for example IR, UV orelectron beam driers. In subsequent transfer unit 56 an endless hologramis applied to the glazed stripe or stripes. Transfer band 57 with theprefabricated holograms is removed from a supply reel (not shown) andbrought together with the paper web. Positioning means (also not shown)ensure that the transfer band comes to lie in exact register with theglazed stripes. Rollers 60 and 61 of the transfer unit are heated andpress the transfer band and paper web together. Under the action ofpressure and heat, holographic layer structure 62 is detached from thetransfer band and connects with the finished smooth local surface areaof the paper web 50. Empty transfer band 58 is then removed from thepaper web and disposed of on a winding-up means (not shown). Paper web50 provided with the endless hologram then runs toward a second dryingmeans 65 in which the transfer adhesive is hardened. Depending on theadhesive used, one can also use various drying methods here. Next, thepaper web runs toward unit 64 in which a quality inspection of theendless hologram is conducted. The diffraction efficiency and theposition of the hologram on the paper can be checked here, for exampleby a scanning light beam.

The quality-inspected paper web is now ready for printing. It can noweither be wound onto winding-up means 65 and stored, as shown, ordirectly introduced into a printing machine familiar to the expert.

The manufacturing chain shown is of course not the only realizablesolution for producing the inventive papers of value. For example, thismanufacturing chain can include, instead of a transfer unit for applyingtransfer holograms, embossing units for producing embossed holograms ormachines for applying other types of elements. It is also possible tosupply the paper web, not to a winding-up means, but to other machines,such as printing units for printing operations or sheet cutters andsheet sorting means, etc.

The described manufacturing chain comprises the primary method steps ofpapermaking, application of elements and printing. As already mentioned,this order permitted only by the invention can be integrated into theproduction of papers of value with particularly great advantages interms of manufacturing speed, production sequence, etc. For example, allsteps necessary for applying the elements can be performed in the paperfactory. The paper can then be processed further, like any other paperof value.

According to the described variant of the invention, no additionalmachines need thus be installed in the printing plant that mightconflict with the available space there or impair the productionthroughput. It is also unnecessary to perform the application of theelements in the paper factory, since the measures shown in FIG. 5 andexplained in detail in the description can of course also be provided ina separate third manufacturing plant. However, they may also beintegrated directly, as described, as final or preceding units into theoperational sequences of the paper factory or printing plant. Along withthe functional advantages, the invention thus also offers an enormousflexibility in terms of process engineering.

I claim:
 1. A method for producing a data carrier with an opticallyvariable element, comprising the steps of:providing a paper substratewith a first finished surface area having a first surface roughness thatproduces distortion of a film optical element bonded thereon;calendaring and thereby compressing the substrate at a pressure causinga depression below the surface of the first finished area in a partialarea of the first finished surface area to produce a second finishedsurface area with a second surface roughness that will not distort afilm optical element bonded thereon; applying a film optical element toat least a partial area of the second finished surface area.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the first finished surface is provided with asurface roughness suitable for steel intaglio printing.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein, prior to compression, a coating is applied at least inpartial areas of the area to be compressed.
 4. The method of claim 1including the further step of cutting the data carrier into smallersegments comprising individual data carriers.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the calendaring and thereby compression of the first surfacearea is carried out at a pressure of 100 to 1000 kp/cm tangent length.6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of applying an opticallyvariable element comprises applying a prefabricated transfer element tosaid partial area of said second finished surface area.
 7. A methodaccording to claim 1, including selecting a thickness for the filmoptical element such that the optical element does not protrude abovethe first finished surface area after it is applied to the secondfinished surface area.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein aftercompressing the substrate a coating is applied at least in partial areasof the areas which are compressed.